Corporate companies have been urged to take the lead in solving important issues such as reduction in waste generated and recycling of water for greater sustainability of the environment.
Adviser to Chief Minister on Urban Affairs A. Ravindra, while delivering the inaugural address at the Confederation of Indian Industry’s annual conference on ‘Environment and Sustainability: Walk the talk’ here on Friday, said corporate companies could play an important role in joining hands with the government to solve various issues that have a bearing on society, according to a press release.
“The corporate sector should take the lead by setting an example in the journey towards sustainability. If each of you can take up at least one such issue as your agenda, the government will surely cooperate,” he said.
L. Krishnan, Chairman, CII, Karnataka State Council, said around 20 CII member companies would take steps towards becoming zero-garbage output campuses.
Case Scot, Market Development Director, UL, Environment, the U.S., underlined the importance of sustainability while maintaining that it was basically about being better informed as it led to a proper understanding of human health, environment, social impact and identification of products. In this connection, he spoke about the theory of responsible consumption which could not come about without being better informed about the products concerned. This knowledge ultimately led to the conscious purchase of greener products from green companies.
Venkatesh Valluri, Ingersoll-Rand, spoke about the core issues of sustainability, while emphasising the need to create a platform to identify them. Once it is available, it would become easier to ensure a convergence of views between government and private sector in tackling important public issues.
Earlier, B. Jayaraman, convener, CII, Karnataka Environment and Sustainability Panel, underlined the importance of the involvement of industry and government for the common good.
The release added that Kalpana Kar, solid-waste management expert; Surojit Bose, director, Climate Change and Sustainability Services, Ernst and Young; R. Srinivas, executive director, Centre for Sustainable Development, Bangalore; J.C. Sharma, vice-chairman and managing director, Sobha Developers, spoke.
